Mormon History, Aug 12, 1843

-- Aug 12, 1843 [Polygamy] The revelation on celestial marriage and plurality of wives is read to the Nauvoo Stake High Council by Hyrum Smith. (1)

[Polygamy] Hyrum Smith presents the revelation on plural and "Celestial marriage" (D&C 132) to the Nauvoo Stake High Council. Hyrum Smith presents the revelation on plural marriage to the Nauvoo Stake High Council . PLACE: Nauvoo High Council Meeting, Nauvoo IL (2)

Polygamy announced internally

Polygamy was announced in the Nauvoo High Council, read by Hyrum Smith. No wording exists. This is supposedly what was read to Emma shortly thereafter. It was supposedly received on July 27, 1842. ( Quinn, Origins p 635 ) As a result, Austin A. Cowles resigned from the High Council. ( Dayne, More Wives Than One, p 33 ) On Apr 27, 1845 Cowles is run out of the city of Nauvoo by the Whistling and Whittling Brigade. (3)

Robert D Foster: Sworn in as school commissioner at Carthage, Illinois, 12 August 1843. (4)

-- August 12th 1843 [High Council Minutes]

Council met according to adjt at H. Smith's office No buisness before the Council. Teaching by Prest Hiram Smith & William Marks.

Adjd till next Saturday at 2 o'clock P.M.

Hosea Stout, Clerk (5)

-- Aug 13, 1843 [Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] 13th In the morning Elder Grant & myself walked to the Navy Yard & I preached & was followed by Elder Grant. In the afternoon we met with the saints & Elder O Pratt Preached upon the subject of zion from the Psalmes of David, & In the evening Elders B Young H C Kimball & myself occupied the time. I addressed the people first & told my experience & felt much of the spirit of God in bearing testimony that Joseph Smith sen was a Prophet of God that the Book of Mormon was true & that the work we was engaged in was of God. I was followed by Elders Kimball & Young who also bore testimony of the work of God by the power of God. (6)

[Joseph Smith Diary] Sunday, August 13th 1843 Joseph Pre[ached] in relation [to] the death of Judge [Elias] Higby. 2d Peter 3d C[hapter] 10-11 v[erses]. Text said he was not like other men. His mind was continually occupied with the business of the day, and he had to depend entirely upon the Living God for everything he said on such occasions.

The great thing for us to know is to comprehend what God did institute before the foundation of the world. Who knows it?

It is the constitutional disposition of mankind to set up stakes and set bounds to the works and ways of the Almighty.

We are called thus [to] mourn this morning the death of a good man, a great man and a mighty man. It is a solemn idea that man has no hope of seeing a friend after he has lost him, but I will give you a more painful thought. The thought is simple and I never design to communicate no ideas but what are simple, for to this end I am sent. Suppose we have an idea of a resurrection &c. &c. and yet know nothing at all of the gospel and could not comprehend one principle of the orders of Heaven, but found yourselves disappointed. Yes, at last find yourselfs disappointed in every hope or anticipation when decisions goes forth from the lips of the almighty at last. Would not this be a greater disappointment. A more painful thought than annihilation.

Had I inspiration, Revelation, and lungs to communicate what my soul has contemplated in times /past/ there is not a soul in this congregation but would go to their homes and shut their mouths in everlasting silence on religion till they had learned something.

Why be so certain that you comprehend the things of God when all things with you are so uncertain. You are welcome to all the knowledge and [several lines left blank].

I do not grudge the world of all the religion the[y] have got. They are welcome to all the knowledge they possess.

The sound saluted my ears. We are come unto Mt. Zion &c. What could profit us to come unto the spirits of just men but to learn and come to the knowledge of spirits of the Just.

Where has Judge Higby gone? Who is there that would not give all his goods to feed the poor and pour out his gold and silver to the four winds to come where Judge Higby has gone.

That which hath been hid from before the foundation of the world is revealed to babes and sucklings in the last days.

The world is reserved unto burning in the last days. He shall send Elijah the prophet and he shall reveal the covenants of the fathers in relation to the children /originally written/ and the children and the covenants of the children in relation to the fathers.

Four destroying angels holding power over the 4 quarters of the earth until the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads. What is that seal? Shall I tell you? No.

Doctrine [of] Election Sealing /of the servants of God/ on the top of their heads tis not the cross as the Catholics would have it. Doctrine of Election to Abraham was in relation to the Lord. A man wishes to be embraced in the covenant of Abraham. A man [like] Judge Higby in world of spirits, is sealed unto the throne, and doctrine of Election [is] sealing the father and children together. [rest of page left blank]

To the mourner, do as the husband and the father would instruct you? [Then] You shall be reunited.

I have been acquainted with Judge Higby a long time. I never knew a more tender hearted man.

The President was much exhausted. G[eorge] J. Adams spoke about a contribution to get lumber for Bro[ther] Richard's house followed by P[arley] P. Pratt.

Elder G[eorge] J. Adams, after meeting was dismissed, called [and] read some charges which had been preferred by Chester A. Cowles against him and [said that he was] cited to appear before High Council for trial and called on all to bring forward their testimony, and prove their charge. Asked if they they did not, he should take the accusers for slander[ers].

[several lines left blank] 2 P.M. Joseph as Mayor instructed the Marshall to keep the Ladies['] camp ground clear of young men.

The city is enlarging very fast. We have so many learned men in this city and the height of knowledge is not [sufficient] to know enough to keep out of the way. I have been ferretting out grog shops, groceries, and beer barrels.

Mr. Bagby[, county tax collector out] of Carthage, who has exercised more despotic power over the inhabitants of this city than any despot of the Eastern country I met. He gave me some abusive language [and] took up a stone to throw at me. I siezed him by the throat to choke him off. [several lines left blank]

At the Election /on the hill they/ got a Constable name of King. I don't know what need there was of a constable. Old Father Perry said why you can't vote in this precinct. King took me by the collar and told me to go away.

All our wrongs have arisen under the power and authority of democracy and I have sworn that this arm shall fall frommy shoulder and this tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth before I will vote for them unless they make me satisfaction and I feel it sensibly.

I was abused and regulated at the ground and there wasnot a man in the crowd to say, "This is Bro[ther] Joseph, this is the Mayor." Then spoke of the grog shops and the disturbance ofthe crowd in the street by Mosseur's grocery. Warned the grog shop[keepers] to be scarce after this time and the peace officers to take notice of the grog shops and give him reasonablenotice. Closed 20 mi[nutes] [past] 3 [o'clock].

Returned and said he had forgotten one thing. We have had certain traders in this city who have been writing falsehoods to Missouri. There is a certain man in this city who has made acovenant to betray and give me up and that too before the Gove[rnor] Carlin commenced his persecution. This testimony I have from gentlemen from a broad and I do not wish to give theirnames.

Sidney Rigdon, I most solemnly proclaim the withdrawalof my fellowship from this man /on the condition that the Judgingbe true/ and let the Saints proclaim it abroad that hemay no longer be acknowledged as my counselor and that all who feel to sanction my proceedings and views will manifest it by uplifted hands. It was a unanimous vote that Sidney Rigdon be disfellow[shipp]ed and his license demanded. [several lines left blank]

James Blakely commenced preaching at 3 P.M. andpreached away most of the congregation. Afterwards a contribution of $4.60 was taken for Richard's house. Lydia Walker died at Joseph['s] about 9 o'clock. (10)